The preparations Shurka had organized before and other snipers and mortars did not come into play until this time.
It should be said that this was Shulka's previous plan, which was to let students from the sniper school and mortar school come up for practical training in fighting guerrillas.
Unexpectedly, the plan could not keep up with the changes, and the opportunity came as soon as they entered the battlefield, and because of the changes in the battle situation, they had to hold on to the granary... This was also not part of Shulka's original plan.
But now it is meaningless to talk about plans, and the battlefield should adapt to changes.
On both sides of the granary are two sniper platoons and a mortar squad.
Of course, there were also deserters from the 4th Infantry Brigade in an organized and orderly manner.
Therefore, the two reconnaissance platoons sent by the German army were of course unable to complete their reconnaissance mission, or in other words, their reconnaissance mission ended just after it began, because it did not take long for them to be beaten out with heavy casualties and dejection.
But Major Paul was not satisfied with this.
Because he knew that as long as the building was not like a granary, there would not be much difficulty for the German army.
This is indeed the case.
Fifteen minutes later, the two companies of reinforcements promised by Major General Jonas arrived one after another, as well as five two assault guns and three armored vehicles.
What surprised Major Paul was that three of the five tanks were Panzer III tanks.
The firepower of tanks and assault guns was obviously of great help to Major Paul's attack on the building.
This made Major Paul want to refocus his attack on the granary.
However, after thinking about it for a while, Major Paul finally gave up.
He knew that even with these reinforcements and tanks, attacking the granary was still very dangerous, because even if the enemy did not garrison and let the Germans attack on the first floor, they would not dare to enter.
Therefore, the best way is still to outflank from both wings.
The battle started quickly. With tanks, armored vehicles, long-range artillery fire and even occasional air force support, the two German troops penetrated the two wings of the granary like two sharp knives, and almost all the buildings in their path were destroyed.
became ruins.
The German army can only do this, otherwise it will be difficult to clear out the enemies in the building.
"They want to surround us!" Vasily said to Shulka while holding up a telescope to observe.
"Yes!" Shulka replied.
"You must have thought of a countermeasure, right?" Vasily asked.
"No, Comrade Vasily!" Shulka said: "I don't have any countermeasures!"
Vasily looked at Shulka with disbelief, and only when he saw Shulka's serious face did he realize that Shulka was probably telling the truth.
"But, should we continue to stay like this?" Vasily asked.
"Of course!" Shulka replied: "We cannot retreat, because the granary is a strategic location. Once we give up... we will give up this strong fortress to the enemy. With the granary as the base point, the Germans can at least move their defense line to the north.
Push two kilometers!”
"I know this, Comrade Shulka!" Vasily said: "I'm talking about countermeasures!"
"I said, I have no countermeasures!"
Vasily spread his hands helplessly, he didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Shulka's gourd.
"Have you forgotten what we came here for, Vasily?" Shulka asked.
"Training!" Vasily replied.
"Yes, training!" Shulka raised his head towards the advancing enemy and said, "Then, what are you waiting for now?"
Vasily understood what Shulka meant, nodded and said: "I will take command right away!"
Vasily did understand what Shulka meant.
Then he made some arrangements:
Most of the snipers in the granary were mobilized, and together with Vasily, only one squad was left... The enemy was afraid of the snipers in the granary, and they did not dare to attack the granary easily. Leaving too many manpower here would be a waste.
However, due to the shortage of manpower in the granary, Vasily then transferred a company from deserters of the 4th second-line infantry brigade to garrison.
This company is entirely led by snipers... because snipers are familiar with every corner and passage of the granary and know how to maneuver.
"I think you should evacuate the granary, Comrade Shulka!" Vasily said: "Because it is very likely to be surrounded by enemies!"
"We also need someone to direct us here, Comrade Vasily!" Shulka said.
In fact, Shulka staying in the granary stabilizes the morale of the army... The reason why the deserters of the 4th Infantry Brigade dared to return to the granary to fight was that, in addition to the snipers fighting a good battle here, another reason was that Shulka was here.
.
If Shulka and Vasily withdraw at the same time, those deserters will naturally think that they have been recruited as cannon fodder, so it will be difficult to defend the granary even if it has a geographical advantage.
So Shulka can't leave.
Vasily also knew this truth, so he nodded and left with the troops.
Another reason why Shulka dared to stay was that he had confidence in Vasily and his team.
Or it can also be said that he is confident about the current situation on the battlefield.
There were not many German troops, and Sulka could see clearly from the top of the granary.
The German troops that arrived before were only two companies, supplemented by an armored company, but after two attacks and one reconnaissance, only one infantry company remained.
Then two infantry companies and several tanks and armored vehicles were added.
In other words, its total strength is no more than one battalion.
With such a force, if we want to complete the penetration and encirclement of the granary, we may underestimate the Soviet sniper company and mortar company.
But of course, the German army has the advantage of tanks and armored vehicles... There are fewer tanks in Soviet residential areas, especially at Station 2.
This is because Soviet tanks are produced at the tractor factory in the northern industrial zone, and the tanks reinforced from Hedong can only be transported by large transport ships... Shulka's strategy to ease supply is amphibious landing ships, oil barrel pontoons, and large transport ships.
The items went hand in hand, making it impossible for the German Air Force to take care of both.
But neither of the first two can transport tanks, and it is not easy for large transport ships to transport tanks.
If tanks want to reinforce railway station No. 1, they will usually go from the tractor factory, pass through Mamayev Kurgan, pass through residential areas, and then arrive at railway station No. 1.
On the one hand, this can only be done at night, and on the other hand, fuel is consumed when the tank is running.
Therefore, the tanks in the southern residential areas are always in a state of tension.
At this time, the main tank force was also used on the main battlefield on the Tsaritsa River instead of on the flanks.
In addition, the German army also has artillery and air superiority... Therefore, in this battle, the enemy and we cannot win or lose based on a simple comparison of military strength.
In fact, if we really compare the strength of the troops, the German army only has one battalion, while the Soviet army has two companies of elites plus a reinforced battalion of deserters.
The total strength of the Soviet army even exceeded that of the German army.
To put it simply, in this battle, as long as the Soviet army can avoid the German air, tank, and artillery advantages, there won't be much of a problem.
And this is exactly the training subject for the sniper company and the mortar company. (To be continued)